From George Washington to Captain Jeremiah Hill, 30 September 1777
To Captain Jeremiah Hill
Head Qrs [Skippack, Pa.] Septr 30th 1777.
Sir
Your Letter of the 6th Instant I received some days ago.1 As the Congress were pleased to vest the Legislature, or Council of the Massachusets State with the power of appointing Officers to the Several Regiments raised by them, I would not willingly interfere with their Arrangements. I cannot tell the motives which might induce them to promote Capn Cogswell. I shall be sorry if any Officer of merit has been aggrieved, and as you conceive, that you have, and request a discharge, I shall not insist on your remaining longer in service if it is your wish to leave it, giving your Commission to Genl Heath. I am Sir Yr Most Obedt servant
Go: W.
Df, in Robert Hanson Harrison’s writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW.
1. Hill wrote GW on 6 Sept.: “I have inclosed the Copy of a Letter which I offer’d to the honorable Council and House of this State which was committed to the honorable House who thereupon voted to recommend me to be taken such Notice of by your Excellency as my Merit deserved or to discharge me with Honor from the Service if I desired it which Letter was sent to the Council who refused to concur with it; thrô the Influence of the honorable General Ward because he thought it did not do Justice to my Merit; I am much obliged to his Honor, Therefore Dear Sir I am constrain’d once more to request a Discharge” (DNA: RG 93, War Department Papers). The enclosed letter complains of the promotion of Thomas Cogswell to major of the 1st Massachusetts Regiment ahead of Hill and includes a copy of a petition of 1 July 1777 that he had sent to GW. Hill wrote that “Waiting sometime but receiving no Answer I waited on his Excellency in Person (my Petition has escaped his Excellency’s particular Notice) his Excellency was pleased to decline giving me a Discharge but offerd me Liberty to come to this honorable Court for Redress” (DNA: RG 93, War Department Papers).